Where do these prices come from?

Buyer beware!  
Maybe they just wanted a small parcel of the famed colllectors collection. ......”you know my Uncle James has a Engine from the collection of  David Owen.”  oh how nice !
 Or got caught up in the frenzy of bidding on something with out knowing the actual market value of the item.

Someone said “a fool and his money are soon parted”.  I try not to be to foolish.  

Yes.. that engine sold for a lot of money! I couldn't see anything externally unique about it. It had a L/H starter-spring.. but that's not uncommon.

OTOH.... there's also the possibility that the people who are bidding on this collection, have a connection to the deceased and his family. Paying a few extra dollars for an item could help-out that family if they were struggling. We can't just assume that these bidders are inexperienced. The fella that's offered.. or "been charged" with liquidating this man's collection, may not be taking any sort of commission. If I were to suddenly "pass-on".. I'd hope that the little that I have, wouldn't be auctioned-off for pennies on the dollar.

roddie wrote:OTOH.... there's also the possibility that the people who are bidding on this collection, have a connection to the deceased and his family. Paying a few extra dollars for an item could help-out that family if they were struggling. We can't just assume that these bidders are inexperienced. The fella that's offered.. or "been charged" with liquidating this man's collection, may not be taking any sort of commission. If I were to suddenly "pass-on".. I'd hope that the little that I have, wouldn't be auctioned-off for pennies on the dollar.

You're a good soul Roddie. I hope it rubs off.
I felt it.
Bob

I have to agree with Bob. A more wise response than my own. Let’s hope it was that. And the berieved was compensated in some small way.

Humbleness is something we all need more of.

God Bless Roddie!

Cribbs74 wrote:I have to agree with Bob. A more wise response than my own. Let’s hope it was that. And the berieved was compensated in some small way.

Humbleness is something we all need more of.

God Bless Roddie!

Yes, thank you Roddie, Bob and Ron. It’s good to have people whose thoughts and ideas can change my altitude and attitude!

In no way was I taking a shot at anybody with my comment.
By "rubbing off", I meant throughout life. Looks kinda snarky
this morning.
Bob

Not so sure the bidding was founded in support of the FAMILY... perhaps it was... from what little I know he was pretty well off

I understand the David Owen "collection" was rather large ...in fact the guy liquidating it all was concerned enough of the volume, he seems to be doling out the engines....see Barton's quote below

"I've just started putting engines from David's collection on eBay. At this stage I'll aim to put up around ten engines a week, and see how that goes. We don't want to suddenly flood the market with any particular type, so expect to see a fairly diverse and random bunch each week. So here are this week's offerings:"

There are probably a bunch of the engines worthy of the "I must have because it was David's"

But I tend to think this .049 is just another example of a bidding war ...... took me a full year to curb the URGE to WIN AT ANY COST!

dckrsn wrote:In no way was I taking a shot at anybody with my comment.
By "rubbing off", I meant throughout life. Looks kinda snarky
this morning.
Bob

Not feeling like anything snarky was intended. I just like Roddie’s comments better than mine!

Location is part of it.  Australia has a harder time getting engines because of import fees.  Other members have talked about this.  It means that engines already in that geography are worth a little more as most examples would have to be imported.

Phil

edit:
I Forgot Oldenginerod was in AU already. He has a pretty good feel for prices I am sure. $50 is getting a bit high.

Phil

Wow! Most of Europe applies VAT to imports starting at the £15 ($27 AUD) to £20 mark so you guys in Australia have it pretty good in comparison. VAT is applied even if the goods are second hand or used and regardless of whether or not the goods are available in country or not.

We had an engine collector here in Dallas die. There was a collecto of all things model related and his wife showed up with most of the collection. She had a knowledgeable person helping her price the motors and I scored a Willie Wylie fox stunt .35. It was marked at $75 but I paid $100 because it was worth it and she needed the money more than I did. There were a number of other sales that I watched where the same thing happened. She was crying some of the time from relief at the amount of money that was coming in. I have no idea what that motor would be worth but it is a very nice piece and I doubt that more than 10 or 15 were ever made. For those that may not know Willey made some super tiger ported pistons and liners along with a new head for a local combat class that needed a stunt .35 but what you did inside was wide open.